The Celtics are on the verge of becoming the first team in NBA history to successfully come back from a 0-3 series deficit after winning their third straight game against the Heat on Sunday.
The NBA 2023 odds had the Celtics down and out because 149 teams were unsuccessful in rallying from the seemingly insurmountable deficit. But following Derrick White’s heroics in Game 6, the Celtics have reasons to believe in Game 7 tomorrow.
The Nuggets are certainly taking a close look at the Celtics and the Heat after they eliminated the Lakers earlier last week. And regardless of who wins in the East, Denver appear to be the favourites to win it all.
Meanwhile, the offseason has already started for several other teams, as the coaching carousel is up and running.
Learn more about the latest from the Association, as SBOTOP has you covered.
Celtics force Game 7 after going down 0-3
The Heat were supposed to be on their way to the NBA Finals, but the Celtics had other plans, and we’re about to have another Game 7 between these two teams, just like last season.
After the Heat went up 3-0, the Celtics blew out the Heat in Games 4 and 5. The real Jayson Tatum showed up in Game 4 by dropping a game-high 33 points, while the Celtics rediscovered their three-point shooting touch in Game 5.
In Game 6, the Celtics shot poorly from three-point land (20-per cent). However, they did just enough to extend the series to Game 7 at home.
Jimmy Butler led a furious Heat rally by putting them up by one with three seconds left after he was fouled by Al Horford on a three-point attempt. The Celtics challenged the foul but were unsuccessful, although they were given an additional 0.9 seconds after the review of the call.
And those tenths of a second proved to be the difference, as Derrick White was at the right place at the right time. After Marcus Smart’s three-pointer rimmed out, White came out of nowhere to guide the ball in before the final buzzer sounded.
White became the second player in NBA history to hit a buzzer-beater with his team facing elimination and trailing late. Michael Jordan last did it for the Bulls against the Cavaliers in 1989 with “The Shot”.
Boston also became the fourth team in NBA history to erase a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series and force a deciding game. The 1951 Knicks, 1994 Nuggets, and 2003 Blazers last did it, but they all lost Game 7 on the road.
Nuggets waiting after sweeping the Lakers
Waiting on the wings are the Nuggets, who swept the Lakers in the WCF en route to their first Finals in franchise history. Despite the close four games, Denver were simply the better team, especially down the stretch.
Nikola Jokic continues to outline his MVP credentials. The two-time league MVP recently recorded his eighth triple-double of the playoffs, breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s 1967 record for triple-doubles in a single postseason run.
The good thing for the Nuggets is that Jokic didn’t do it all alone. Especially in Game 4, five out of seven players who played all scored at least 13 points.
Jokic’s co-star, Jamal Murray, has been spectacular in this series too. The 26-year-old combo guard averaged 32.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists while shooting 53-per cent from the field and 41-per cent from three this ECF.
The sweep by the Nuggets ended the Lakers amazing turnaround after starting their 2022-23 campaign 2-10 under new head coach Darvin Ham.
After significantly improving their roster at the trade deadline, the Lakers went on to knock off the second-seeded Grizzlies and defending champions Warriors to get to this point.
Just like the other teams that have gone fishing, the Lakers have questions to face this offseason, especially after LeBron James recently dropped a retirement hint.
Bucks get their new head coach
In other NBA 2023 news, there are four more teams (Pistons, Sixers, Suns, and Raptors) that are still looking for new head coaches after Adrian Griffin was recently hired by the Bucks.
Griffin, 48, had been an assistant for the past 15 years. He is known for developing younger players, and he most recently worked as an assistant for the Raptors.
His former head coach, Nick Nurse, was supposed to take the Bucks job, but he pulled out. The one-time NBA champion is reportedly “enticed” by the Sixers job.
Besides Nurse, other notable head coaches who are without a job are Mike Budenholzer, Doc Rivers, Monty Williams, and Frank Vogel.
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